Reviews

Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley

katieamy's review

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

themanicuredshelf's review

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

macroscopicentric's review

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

There were frequent funny individual moments but overall this was just bizarrely mired in an anachronistic late aughts/early 2010s detached irony with very little of real substance under the surface.

lindsayhotrod's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

alexblackreads's review

4.0

This was such a weird book, and weird isn't usually my vibe, but I did really enjoy it. Just a decent ways outside of my comfort zone. Like it's about a mind control cult (an oversimplification, but close enough) and a young woman running into a bunch of exes as she works through her current relationship with her fiance. It's a weird vibe, but I liked it a lot.

My favorite part was her relationship and just how much of the book centered around what it means to be in love and what makes a relationship worthwhile. Despite all the extraneous weirdness, that was the main focus of the book and I really enjoyed that. I think it was really well done. I like the exploration of relationships in literature and this really delivered.

The mind control cult was weird. I didn't really get it, and to be honest I don't think you were really supposed to get it? Or if there was anything to get. It didn't make sense. It was just the kind of thing you have to accept at face value and go along with, which is not a skill I excel at.

But despite that, a good read. A weird read, but a good one. I don't know that I'll ever want to try more from Crosley, but I'm very glad I stepped outside my comfort zone with this one.

hannahbright's review

3.0

It was good not great!

sketchjester's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

kidsquid's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love this book, and the main character. It's a book about closure in relationships. You can get bogged down in the particulars of how things come to pass, or you can meet the book where it is, and just enjoy the journey.

The prose in this book is very unique, not overly flowery, but written with care. So many phrases stuck out, made me smile, and likely will show up in my future conversations. 

highly recommend! 

kenrenreads's review

4.0

Wow, this was such a fun read! In this story, Lola - newly engaged - keeps running into ex boyfriends on the streets of New York. What seems like a weird coincidence suddenly turns into the last thing Lola or anyone else would suspect. These encounters with her ex boyfriends forces Lola to think deeply about her current relationship with her fiancé and ultimately discover what she wants from love.

While reading this, I kept feeling similar vibes to Laura Hankin's two published novels: weird, genre-bending stories about New York City's wealthiest residents and their secret groups. I loved Sloane Crosley's take on this slightly specific subgenre of novels that I am obsessed with. I especially loved how humorous several parts of this book were, especially reading about some of these experiences from our witty main character.

I did find myself getting a little lost between past and present (especially during Lola's final encounter with her ex), but overall I entirely thrilled with this novel and would love to read similar books or more from this author!

Thank you so much to NetGalley + Farrar, Straus, and Giroux MCD for an early copy of this book!

wutheringtights's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0